More About Mr. Sweet

2001 Polaris Pkwy Columbus, OH 43240

Phone: (614) 293-5376

Email: sweet.48@osu.edu

Current OSU Appointment

Associate Professor-Clinical, Human Genetics

Noteworthy Graduate Narrative

As Chair, Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Advisory Committee (JEMF), the primary funding agency for the National Society of Genetic Counselors, I oversaw development of the "JEMF Graduate Student Award Program" which has since become an annual national award provided to graduate students in training. Applicants submit a formal research proposal, which is reviewed and ranked by the JEMF Advisory Committee. The award supports ongoing work as part of a graduate thesis projects. During my tenure as Chair, we provided awards to 36 graduate students, of which 32 recipients subsequently published thesis work. I was active advisor and mentor on a number of student thesis projects.

I am a faculty adviser for graduate students in the OSU Genetic Counselor Graduate Training Program, and currently a mentor of two graduate students. I provide classroom and clinical instruction for the Training Program.

Civic Engagement

Team Leader and 100-Mile Pelotonia Rider (2009-2014), Stefanie's Team of Hope - the largest non-corporate Peloton

Clinical Interest

Genetics, Personalized Medicine

Biographical

Over the course of 16 years of clinical research at Ohio State University (OSU), my focus of study has been (1) gene discovery and clinical translation for hereditary cancer syndromes, (2) clinical implementation of automated online family history risk assessment tools and, (3) development of genetic/genomic service delivery models. As summarized in the grant and publications sections of my dossier, I have directed and published a number of original investigations (29 since my last promotion) in each of these areas. My work in hereditary cancer syndromes includes 14-year collaboration with investigators at the University of Toronto on hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome. Given lack of study on the condition of hyperplastic (serrated) polyposis, upon professional travel to the University of Brisbane, I was fortunate to make inroads with local investigators which have since become the largest international collaboration on this rare condition. Through work on development of automated family history tools, the OSU Division of Human Genetics has obtained a national reputation and informing public policy. In 2008, I launched the online public access version of Family HealthLink® an automated cancer and coronary heart disease family history triage tool. In 2012, I directed the implementation of Family HealthLink® at the OSU Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, and, recently published our findings on clinical utility (i.e. public and patient cohorts) in Genetics in Medicine. Family HealthLink® is listed as a general public resource on the NHGRI website, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was promoted through a Wall Street Journal article "The Life-Saving Secrets in Your Family Tree'', and has been advertised on WOSU radio and other local and national media outlets.

As a researcher in the newer field of genomic medicine, I am deeply committed to advancing our understanding of innovative genetic/genomic counseling service delivery models. In 2010, following establishment of an OSU research partnership with the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, I was asked to lead the design and implementation of a longitudinal study to investigate the impact of in-person genomic counseling in the return of actionable genomic information for complex disease and pharmacogenomics. Specifically, OSU patients with chronic disease managed in an academic medical center receive genomic results through a web-portal, and are randomized to additional in-person post-test genomic counseling versus only the web-based return of results. Through the years, this partnership has evolved into a coordinated effort that takes advantage of the diversity and strengths of each institution. Significant infrastructure was developed that allows confidential sharing of data between institutions, including direct release of study results for uploading to the OSU EHR; extraction of clinical data from the EHR; and transfer of the genomic datasets for research purposes. Study findings led to an NIH/NHGRI R21 award, for which I’m PI on a qualitative research study to assess and develop new genomic counseling service delivery models. In this regard, in the last year we have performed qualitative interviews of OSU-Coriell study participants, and incorporated genomic counseling experts from four academic institutions (University of Michigan; Stanford University; UNC-Chapel Hill; University of Pennsylvania) into the process. I will have a number of first-author publications (2 in process) from this work. This ongoing collaborative and multi-institutional effort will also allow for submission for RO1 level funding in fall of 2015. Lastly, this work also ties into development of the clinical pharmacogenomics program at OSU, and has allowed for my involvement as co-investigator (10% FTE) on the funded Translational Pharmacogenomics Program as part of the NIH/NIGMS Pharmacogenomics Regional Network.

These research accomplishments have resulted in accolades such as invited speaking engagements at international/national/local levels, nominations on four separate committees of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship (JEMF); Practice Guidelines Committee; Efficient Delivery of Genetic Services Task Force; and the Personalized Medicine Special Interest Group), and reviewer on numerous outstanding journals. Having now trained and performed research in multiple divergent areas of genetic/genomics, I have gained a unique perspective that is allowing me to forge a novel upward trajectory towards innovative, collaborative and ultimately translational health-related science.

As my teaching has been evaluated by fixed-response surveys with opportunity for open comments, I consistently use this feedback to alter my teaching methodology. I have reflected on and responded to student feedback and have remained motivated to improve the teaching-learning environment through varied instructional approaches. For example, for a new 2015 graduate level course, Pharmacogenomics 5700, I had opportunity to use online instruction to a larger degree. As effective teaching also involves assessment of student potential for future pursuits in the form of recommendation letters, I’ve had ample opportunity to advise OSU undergraduate/graduate students, with most performing a 1-2 year internship. These students are evaluated in terms of their academic, clinical, and research capabilities as well as their general character. I have written letters of recommendation for 12 undergraduate/graduate students pursuing advanced degrees, and all have successfully advanced to the next level. As Chair, JEMF, the primary grant funding agency for the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), I was involved with development of the "JEMF Graduate Student Award" which supports ongoing work for graduate thesis projects of genetic counseling students in training. Applicants submit a formal research proposal, which is reviewed and ranked by the JEMF Advisory Committee. During my tenure as Chair, we provided awards to 36 graduate students, of which 32 subsequently published thesis work. I was active advisor and mentor for a number of these students. I am also faculty adviser for graduate students in the OSU Genetic Counselor Graduate Training Program and currently a mentor of two graduate students. I provide classroom and clinical instruction for the Training Program. Lastly, in recent years, I authored two peer-reviewed books on genomic medicine; one for medical professionals: "The Busy Physician's Guide to Genetics, Genomics and Personalized Health Care"; the second for the lay public: "Your Genes, Your Health and Personalized Medicine"; each are used in graduate and professional education.

My accomplishments in service include both university and professional/national service. In my capacity as licensed genetic counselor, I provide university service and to the OSU Division of Human Genetics as a licensed and certified genetic counselor. I serve as graduate student adviser, and faculty member for the OSU Genetic Counselor Graduate Training Program. I'm an active member of the OSU Personalized Genomic Medicine Working group; the OSU Translational Pharmacogenomics Project; and the OSU Bioinformatics Research Group. I served a two-year term on the OSU Cancer Institutional Review Board; and multiple years on the 1) OSU Clinical Implementation Working Group; 2) OSU Personalized Health Assessment Working Group; 3) OSU E-Tablet Initiative; and 4) OSU Personalized Healthcare Virtual Genomics Working Group.

At the professional/national level, through invited presentations locally, nationally and internationally I strive to bring recognition to the tremendous merits of OSU. I was a founding member and Chair, NSGC Personalized Medicine-Special Interest Group, a core driver for genomics education and development of applications/tools to support our profession. I was an invited Abstract Reviewer and Program Moderator for the 2014 American Society of Human Genetics conference. I'm currently involved (3-year service commitment) as elected Advisor to the NSGC Practice Guidelines Committee, and, more recently asked to join a new NSGC Efficient Delivery of Genetic Services Task Force. I will continue such service accepting more opportunities as presented as my research continues to attract prominence in multiple disciplines, whilst forging lucrative contacts with colleagues across the world.

Sturm, A. and Sweet, K.."Lessons Learned in Clinical Implementation of an Automated Cancer and Coronary Heart Disease Family History Risk Assessment Tool at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Presented at American College of Medical Genetics" Vancouver.

"The establishment of the Ohio State University Medical Center-Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative Research Study: Genetic Counseling for Patients with Chronic Disease." Presented at American College of Medical Genetics Annual Education Conference, Vancouver, CA|CAN. (May 2011)

"Pharmacogenomics: Update on the Field and Roles for Genetic Counselors." Presented at National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. (October 2012)